Mohamed Ibrahim: From school teacher to politician in Somalia

One minute he's helping Somali boys with their English at a north London school, the next, Mohamed Ibrahim is being asked to change to fortunes of Somalia. Sounds like a far-fetched dream but this is the reality that Ibrahim is living after being appointed deputy prime minister.

Ibrahim spent two years at Newman Catholic College in Brent as a learning support teacher but has now been tasked with leading his country through one of the worst droughts and famines to hit Somalia in 60 years. As well as his role as deputy prime minsiter, Ibrahim has also been named minister for foreign affairs by the UN-backed authority and attended the Horn of Africa summit in Rome in the summer.

There are four million people in crisis in Somalia with 750,000 at risk of death in the coming months. The famine has been caused by severe drought, rising food and fuel prices, chronic poverty and continued conflict amongst other factors. Headteacher Kolka said that given the circumstances, normal resignation protocols could be waived.

In his resignation email to the school, Ibrahim wrote,

“I was unexpectedly called to my country during the summer holidays, at a time when the country is facing a humanitarian crisis such as drought and famine. I am sorry not to have resigned from my post and to have accepted another job. I will always have Newman Catholic College in my heart and won’t forget the wonderful colleagues.”

Headteacher Richard Kolka, who received Ibrahim's resignation in August, said,

“He was always such a humble guy. I got the impression he was well respected by the boys and their Somali parents. But I did not see this coming. I was gobsmacked. Even in his email he was very humble.”

Ibrahim has promised to pop into the school when he arrives in London after the UN General Assembly in New York at the end of the month.

Picture: Mohamed Ibrahim